MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact announced on Monday that the club has completed the transfer of attacking midfielder/forward and Costa Rican international Johan Venegas, from club L.D. Alajuelense. Targeted allocation money was used to acquire the player. The deal will become official upon receipt of his international transfer certificate (ITC) and his work permit. As per MLS policy, details of the contract were not disclosed.
“We are very happy to have completed the transfer and signing of Johan Venegas,” said Impact technical director Adam Braz. “He is a quality player with international experience who can play in multiple positions. He will be a very good addition to the team.”
“Johan is a quality player at a good age,” said Impact head coach and director of player personnel Frank Klopas. “He will help this team in the second half of the season and he is a good addition for the future of this club.”
Venegas, 26, was a key player for Costa Rica first division club L.D. Alajuelense over the last two seasons, recording 15 goals and 10 assists in 58 regular season games.
He helped the club win the 2013/14 Torneo de Invierno, while registering two goals and three assists in 14 Costa Rican playoff games.
He also tallied two goals and three assists in 13 CONCACAF Champions League games, starting both semi-final games against the Impact in March and April. He also played four games in the Copa de Costa Rica.
During his career, Venegas has also played for Costa Rican clubs Puntarenas FC, Santos de Guápiles and Barrio México.
At the international level, Venegas is a regular member of the Costa Rican National Team, scoring four goals in 14 games so far. He made his senior debut on September 3, 2014, against Nicaragua in the Copa Centroamericana, scoring his first career goal in that game before helping Los Ticos win the tournament. He also scored against Panama, Uruguay and Spain. He recently appeared in four 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup games.
Venegas will join his new teammates on Monday morning.
JOHAN VENEGAS
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Height: 6'0
Weight: 168 lbs.
Birthdate: November 27, 1988, Puerto Limón, Costa Rica
Citizenship: Costa Rica
Last club: L.D. Alajuelense (Costa Rica)
Acquired: August 3, 2015
